releases: http://rokita.house.gov/speech/rokita-report-11-15-13
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| http://rokita.house.gov/speech/rokita-report-11-15-13 | Rokita Report 11-15-13 | 2013-11-15 | 2013 | 2013-11 | Republican | House | IN | Todd Rokita | R000592 | rokita.house.gov | legacy | Dear Friend, Thank you for the opportunity to update you on the work of the 113th Congress. I trust this finds you and your family well. For daily updates, please take a moment to "Like" my Facebook page by clicking here or follow me on Twitter if you prefer @ToddRokita. In this week's Rokita Report Rokita Readings - Is Welfare the New Normal? Protecting Hoosiers from ObamaCare - Repealing ObamaCare is Still the Goal Committee Hearing - ObamaCare's Impact on Schools, Colleges, and Universities Team Rokita Recognizes 15q Day - Supports Angelman Syndrome Helping Our Neighbors - Our Annual Food Drive Continues Rokita Readings A clickable offering of books and articles that I've read recently and highly recommend, as we strive together to "Keep the Republic." Featured in this week's Rokita Readings is an Investor's Business Daily (IBD) editorial I recently read titled, "Is Welfare the New Normal?" I read this several weeks ago, and decided to forward it now because earlier this week WLFI ran a story regarding SNAP benefits and an anticipated vote on a Farm Bill that is being debated in a Senate-House Conference Committee. Much of the debate has hinged on reforms to our food stamp program. In our communities and across our country, we must have a serious debate about how best to help our neighbors in need, and first, who really is in need on a relative basis. As IBD's editorial concludes, we are seeing record numbers of spending on welfare, welfare dependents, and working age Americans no longer in the labor force, several years since the Great Recession officially ended. We must have an honest debate about these numbers, who to help, how best to help, and how not to take money from our children and grandchildren in doing it. Repeal of ObamaCare Still the Goal This week, the House passed legislation, the Keep Your Health Plan Act that I cosponsored to help prevent ObamaCare from forcing millions of Americans from their individual health plans. The bill passed the House with bipartisan support 261-157. Real people are feeling real pain due to the harmful impact of ObamaCare and I will continue standing up for them by chipping away at this law, and working for its complete repeal. The President willfully deceived the American people when he told them they could keep their insurance, underscoring just how insidious ObamaCare really is. Hoosiers like Rick Lee of Plainfield, who contacted me last week about his cancellation letter, are upset that they now will have to purchase more expensive insurance they simply do not want or need. The Obama Administration’s own Federal Register, in 2010, estimated up to 93 million could lose their insurance plan. While millions are losing their preferred plans, others are having difficulty signing up for the federal exchanges. The Obama Administration announced this week that just 26,000 Americans successfully enrolled in the federal health care exchanges. In Indiana, only about 700 Hoosiers signed up. Clearly, and in contrast to the ObamaCare’s government knows best philosophy, health care reform should focus on patients and the best outcome for each individual. Honest reforms like the American Health Care Reform Act, which I introduced in September, offer patient-centered, free market health care solutions that increase competition, lower costs, improve access for vulnerable Americans, and reform medical liability law. Learn more about the American Health Care Reform Act here. ObamaCare's Impact on Schools, Colleges, and Universities On Thursday, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce held a hearing to examine the impact that ObamaCare is having on our schools, colleges, and universities. You can watch my exchange with witnesses here: Every day we learn more of the harmful effects of ObamaCare, a law that we were told by then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi we would have to "pass it to find out what's in it." Hoosiers are learning the negative impact that this redistributive law is having on our schools, in addition to the rest of our lives. Schools across Indiana are being forced to cut hours, and in some cases employees because they cannot meet the financial demands placed on them by ObamaCare regulations and skyrocketing insurance premiums. This is depriving students of many key support staff and instructional aides. In our colleges and universities, like Ivy Tech Community College, part-time instructors are being forced to teach less hours, limiting the access of students to experienced instructors. This is just one more example of the unintended consequences of ObamaCare and why it is so important we must continue to fight to protect Hoosiers by delaying, defunding, and repealing it. For more information on the hearing or to watch an archived webcast, click here. Team Rokita Recognizes 15q Day - Supports Angelman Syndrome On Friday, Team Rokita dressed in blue to recognize International 15q Day, a day to raise awareness of the similarities between Angelman, Prader-Willi, and Chromosome 15q Duplication syndromes. All three are genetic disorders and their complications originate in the 15th chromosome. My son, Teddy, who is nearly 6 years old, was diagnosed with Angelman Syndrome in 2010. Angelman significantly impairs his capacity for motor development and severely inhibits his intellectual development. In addition to that, it is likely he will never speak. But through his challenges, he is such an inspiration to everyone he meets. We do not know what Teddy’s ultimate impact on this world will be, but we know it will be great. I also made remarks on the House floor to recognize 15q Day and thank my staff for their help today. You can view those remarks here. Learn more about 15q Day and Angelman Syndrome here. Helping Our Neighbors - Our Annual Food Drive Our two district office locations are now accepting nonperishable food donation items for our annual holiday food drive through Friday, December 20. As you'll recall, this is the second year in a row we are collecting food for local food pantries. Earlier this year, during the August town hall events, we also collected food items. Year-to-date, you have helped our offices collect 500 pounds of food. Office hours are open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday. Addresses for my Danville and Lafayette offices are below. ObamaCare Insurance Cancellations Continue to Hit Mailboxes It has been widely reported that millions of Americans are being sent cancellation notices of their insurance policies due to forced changes under ObamaCare. These cancellations come despite the promise made by the President, time and again, that, "if you like your health insurance plan, you can keep your plan." If you or someone you know has had a similar experience, please send me your insurance cancellation notices at InsuranceCancellations@mail.house.gov. Thank you for your continued interest in Congress and for supporting my efforts in Washington. Take care. Sincerely, Todd Rokita | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |